Poll: Idahoans deeply divided over school reform propositions

A new statewide poll out sponsored by the Idaho Statesman newspaper shows Idahoans deeply divided over the school reform referenda measures on the November ballot, Propositions 1, 2 and 3. The poll of 625 likely voters, conducted last week and released over the weekend, showed these results:

Plus, when asked if the propositions, if approved by voters, will improve the quality of education in Idaho public schools, 44 percent said no, 39 percent yes, and 17 percent were undecided. You can read a full report here in the Statesman.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of Washington, D.C. conducted the poll for the Statesman; pollster Brad Coker told Statesman reporter Dan Popkey that the high number of undecided voters is likely to end up breaking 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 against the measures. "The fact that all the results are close is misleading," Coker told the Statesman. "The truth is that all three face a stiff uphill battle. All things being equal, they are likely to lose by margins much larger than what these numbers show."

This is the first independent poll conducted and released on Idaho's hottest election-season issue this year.